Snow vehicle attachment

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a safety attachment for snow vehicles of the type having a body and a seat extending longitudinally rearwardly and terminating at a rear end. The attachment comprises first and second end frames extending upwardly in generally parallel relationship. Each of the end frames includes means at its lower end adapted to attachment the end frame to the side of the vehicle body adjacent the rear end and a plurality of rails extend generally horizontally between the end frames. A back rest is coupled to the end frames and positioned so that when the attachment is coupled to the vehicle the back is positioned relative to the seat such that a passenger sitting on the seat is supported by the back rest.

United States Patent [191 Canada ..180/5 R Wright May 29, 1973 SNOW VEHICLE ATTACHMENT 1,372,793 8/1964 France ..280/150 C Inventor: Orval George Wright, Toronto 12,

Qmario, Canada Primary ExaminerLeo Fnaglia Attorney-Rogers, Bereskin & Parr [73] Ass1gnee: Wright Aluminum Limited, Weston, 7 Ontario, Canada [22] Flled: May 1971 This invention provides a safety attachment for snow [21] Appl. No.: 144,202 vehicles of the type having a body and a seat extending longitudinally rearwardly and terminating at a rear 52 US. Cl. ..280/l50 c 180/5 R The attafhmem first and end [51] Int. Cl. ..B62m 27/02 extendmg upwardly m geflerauy parallel rel? 581 Field of Search ..280/ 0- /5 R Each the end frames means lower end adapted to attachment the end frame to the [56] References Cited side of the vehicle body adjacent the rear end and a plurality of rails extend generally horizontally between UNITED STATES PATENTS the end frames. A back rest is coupled to the end 3 502 368 3/1970' Maxa ..280/l50 c x frames and positimed that when the attachment is 3:622:177 H I1971 Notestine at a "280/150 C coupled to the vehicle the back is positioned relative 3,146,001 811964 McFadyen ..280/l50 c to the Seat Such that a passenger Sitting on the Seat is 3,599,740 8/1971 Martinmaas... .....180/5 R supported by the back rest. 3,622,175 11/1971 Benz ..180/5 R 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 29, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ORVAL GEORGE WRIGHT Patented May 29, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ORVAL GEORGE WRIGHT 1. SNOW VEHICLE ATTACHMENT.

This invention relates to a safety attachment forsnow vehicles.

Snow vehicles are becoming increasingly popular forpleasure driving over. snow, ice and the like. The vehi-, cles consist essentially of amotor driving a single continuous track and a pair of skis in front of .the track and coupled to a handlebar steering. A seat is provided= above the track for the driver and .one or more passengers. Because of the conditions -in.which the vehicles are used, there is some difficulty in stopping the vehicles and steering them accurately. This is particularly true on ice where the vehicles inertia tends to keep the vehicle in a straight line. Should thevehicle be heading:

for an obstacle at high. speed on ice there is a distinct possibility that the driver will neither-be able to steer the vehicle around the obstacle or to stop, As a result care must be exercised in driving thevehicles. How ever, because of the lack; of-skillofdrivers and the power used in the vehicles, accidents are becoming more common.

There are three major. types of-accidents prevalentamong snow vehicle users. First ofallzthe vehicle tends to roll over when travelling transversely along inclines; secondly rear end collisions caused by drivers'losing control on ice; and thirdly passengers falling off-. -the rear, of the machine into the path of other vehicles be-. cause of the lack of springing and hardsuspensions used in the vehicles. A fourth problemv is;the. possibility or running out of fuel in ,coldwintry conditionsresult Reference is first made to FIG. 1 which shows a snow vehicle 10 having a driven track 12 and a pair of skis coupled to handlebars 16 for'steering the vehicle. A cover 18 protects an engine (not shown) which drives the track 12 and a seat 20 is provided above the track for adriver and one or more passengers. Seat 20 terminates at its rear end in an upholsteredupright portion 22 for supporting the lower part of a passengers back, and hand rails 24, 26 are provided one at each side of the uprightportion 22 for use by a passenger in holding onto the vehicle 10. An attachment 28 according to the invention is attached to the hand rails 24, 26.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 2 and 3 with particular reference to FIG. 2 to describe the attachment 28.

-Theattachment is formed from'a pair of end frames 30,

32 each-of which has respective front and rear sections 34, 36 which converge upwardly to blend into a top section38. The lower end of section 36 curves into an attachment section 40and the lower end of section 34 20 has a lug 42 welded to its outer face for engaging with tachment for snow vehicles suitablefor carrying supplies such as foodstuffs and spare fuelfor emergencies in wintry conditions.

According to a particular preferred embodiment of the present invention, a safety attachment for a snow vehicle is provided, the snow vehicle being of the type having a body and a seat extending longitudinallyrear wardly and terminating at a rear end. The attachment includes first and second end frames extending upwardly in generally parallel relationship, and each of the end frames includes means at its lower end adapted to attach the end frame to the vehicle body. A plurality of rails extend generally horizontally between the end frames and are attached to the end frames whereby the frames are spaced apart, The-back rest is coupled to the end frames so that when the attachment is fastened to the vehicle, the back restis positioned relative to the seats so that a passenger sitting on the seat is supported a an'outer faceof rail 24. Attachment sections 40 are spaced apart by a lower rail 44 such that the sections 40register ontopof respective rails 24, 26. A top rail 46 'is welded at its ends to inwardly facing'sides of the frames 30, 32 to further rigidify the structure.

The attachment 28 optionally includes a hinged tray 48which is movable upwardly about a hinge 50 at its forward extremity to provide-access to a fuel tank at the rear of the vehicle. In the normal position, the tray '48 rests on a pair of angle members 52 each of which extendsgenerally. horizontally between sections 34, 36. Angle member 52 consistsof an upright portion 54 in which openings 56 are provided for straps to hold objects-on the tray 48. Member 52 also includes a horizontal portion 58 having a rubber buffer or stop 60 engaged in it for supporting tray 48.

The hinged tray 48 is generally rectangular and is formed of sheet metal and the like having an outer uprightprojection 62 for retaining articles on the tray. Hinge 50 is attached to the leading end of the tray 48 by rivets 64, the hinge being of plastic or any suitable flexible material such as leather and the like. A support member 66 of wood or the like extends between front sections 34 and is held in place by screws 68 which pass through sections 34. The support member 66 extends slightly below the angle member 52 for receiving wood screws 69 to attach the hinge 50. A padded back rest 70 extends forwardly from the support member 66 and consists of a cushion material 72 contained together with support member 66 in a skin 74 of a material to match the upholstery of the snow vehicle 10 (FIG. 1).

Attachment 28 has respective holes 76, 78 in lug 42 and attachment section 40. The holes are adapted to align with similar holes 80, 82 in respective rails 24, 26 for receiving fasteners 84 (one of which is shown).

The frames 30, 32 and rails'44, 46 are preferably of square-sectioned tubing similar to that used for the handrails 24, 26. However, it will be appreciated that snow vehicles vary in construction and that the proportions of the frames 30, 32 and rails 44, 46 can be varied for attachment to a particular brand of snow vehicle. Similarly, thefastene rs 84 can be arranged differently depending upon whether the vehicle. has hand rails or whether the attachment must be coupled directly to the bodypof the vehicle. Similarly, the position of the tray 48 (if one is included) may be varied although the back rest 70 is preferably positioned above the upright portion 22, (FIG. 1) in a position for supporting a passengers back.

In use, a can of extra fuel, foodstuffs, fishing tackle and the like can be strapped to the tray 48. If the vehicle should roll over the seat 20 is unlikely to trap the riders because the vehicle will rest on the attachment 28 and handlebars 16. Also, in rear end collisions, the attachment provides added protection against skis from another vehicle riding over seat 20 and impaling passengers on the vehicle 10.

I claim:

1. A safety attachment for a snow vehicle, the vehicle having a body and a seat extending longitudinally rearwardly and terminating at a rear end, the attachment comprising: first and second end frames extending upwardly in generally parallel relationship, each said end frame including means at its lower end adapted to attach the end frame to a side of the vehicle body adjacent said rear end; a plurality of rails extending generally horizontally between said end frames and attached to the end frames whereby the frames are spaced apart for positioning at respective sides of the seat; a back rest coupled to the end frames so that when the attachment is connected to the vehicle, the back rest is positioned relativeto the seat such that a passenger sitting on the seat is supported by the back rest; a tray coupled to the end frames and extending generally horizontally for supporting luggage and the like, the tray being hinged at its forward extremity for rotating the tray upwardly; and means coupled to the end frames for supporting the tray in a substantially horizontal position. 

1. A safety attachment for a snow vehicle, the vehicle having a body and a seat extending longitudinally rearwardly and terminating at a rear end, the attachment comprising: first and second end frames extending upwardly in generally parallel relationship, each said end frame including means at its lower end adapted to attach the end frame to a side of the vehicle body adjacent said rear end; a plurality of rails extending generally horizontally between said end frames and attached to the end frames whereby the frames are spaced apart for positioning at respective sides of the seat; a back rest coupled to the end frames so that when the attachment is connected to the vehicle, the back rest is positioned relative to the seat such that a passenger sitting on the seat is supported by the back rest; a tray coupled to the end frames and extending generally horizontally for supporting luggage and the like, the tray being hinged at its forward extremity for rotating the tray upwardly; and means coupled to the end frames for supporting the tray in a substantially horizontal position. 